21-fluoro-17-methyl-11-oxygenated steroids



United States Patent This invention relates to certain novel, physiologicallyactive steroids and to the procedures by which said steroids are prepared. It is also directed to certain novel intermediate compounds secured during the process of preparing said physiologically-active steroids.

The compounds of this invention are physiologically active substances which possess anti-inflammatory activity greatly dissociated from thymolytic, catabolic and other metabolic activities, including influences upon the mineral balance. Hence they can be advantageously used in lieu of known corticoids such as hydrocortisone and cortisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and in the treatment of dermatoses; for these purposes they can be administered topically or systemically in the same manner as hydrocortisone. The dosage, in each instance, may be adjusted in accordance with the relative potency of the steroid.

The steroids of this invention are 21-fluoro derivatives of ll-oxygenated l7u-methylpregnanes. More particularly, the steroids of this invention have the general formu1a cum R en;

Suitable starting materials are compounds of the general Formula II- wherein the 1,2 position is saturated or double bonded; Y is hydrogen, halogen or methyl, described in the U.S. application of R. Deghenghi, Serial No. 119,292, filed June 26, 1961, now U.S. Patent No. 3,093,663, granted June 11,1963.

Suitable intermediates for the compounds of Formula I are steroids of the general Formula III- III. CH2]? wherein the 1,2 position is saturated or double bonded; and Y is hydrogen, halogen or methyl, R is hydrogen and R is hydroxy (cc or [3). The compounds of Formula III are prepared by microbiological hydroxylation of the starting materials (Formula II) by subjecting the latter to the oxygenating action of a microorganism such as Aspergillus ochraceus.

More specifically, the compounds of this invention may be prepared by the following sequence of reactions:

A pregnene derivative of Formula III in which Y represents hydrogen, halogen, or methyl, R represents hydrogen, and R an .oc-hydroxyl group, and in which the double bond A may or may not be present, is treated with methane sulfonyl chloride to obtain the corresponding llot-mesylate. The latter ester, upon treatment with suitable basic reagent such as collidine, di-

methylformamide, or preferably anhydrous sodium ace-,

'tate, readily loses the elements of methanesulfonic acid to yield the corresponding M -unsaturated compound, which may be a diene or a triene depending upon the number of double bonds present in the starting material. The elements of hyprobromous acid are then added across the double bond A9411) of the last-named compound, preferably by treatment with N-bromosuccinimide and an acid such as, e.g., perchloric acid, to obtain the corresponding 9u-bromo-l 1 B-hydroXy-pregnene or -pregnadiene derivative. The elements of hydrogen bromide are then eliminated from the steroidal bromohydrin thus obtained, preferably by treatment with potassium vmearispf chromic acid or of N-brornosuccinimide, to the corresponding ketone, to yield the corresponding pregneneor pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione.

This sequence of reactions may be indicated schematically as follows:

HzF CHzF t2... @Clfi The following examples illustrate our invention.

Example 1 To a solution of 11a-hydroxy-17a-methyl-21-fluoropregna-1,4-diene-3,20 dione (1.945 g.) in anhydrous pyridine (20 ml.) there was added methane sulfonyl chloride (1.0 ml.). The reaction solution was left at room temperature overnight and then carefully diluted with ice water. An oil separated which subsequently crystallized on standing. This solid, 11ot-mesyloxy-17oc-methyl- 2l-fluoropregna-l,4-diene-3,20-dione (Ha), was collected by filtration. It had the melting point 112-l18 C. (dec.). Two crystallizations from aqueous methanol gave fluify needles; melting point 120-123 C. (dec.). 7

This procedure was used to prepare the following compounds:

6a,21-difluoro 11u mesyloxy-17a-methylpregna-1,4- diene-3,20-dione (IIb).

6a,17a-dimethyl-1la-mesyloxy 21-fluoropregna-1,4-

diene-3,20-dione (IIc).

11u-mesyloxy-17a-methyl-21 fluoropregn-4-ene-3,20- dione (IId).

6a,21-difiuoro-1la-mesyloxy 17oz methylpregn-4-ene- 3,20-dione (IIe) 6a,17a-dimethyl -lla-mesyloxy-Zl-fluoropregn-a 4-ene- 3,20-dione (Hf).

Example 2 Anhydrous sodium acetate (1.595 g.) was added to a solution of the product from Example 1 (1.137 g.) in

acetic acid (18 ml.) and this mixture was refluxed for half an hour. The reaction solution was cooled, diluted k9,... x no a &5

l lu-60.9";

with water, and extracted with methylene chloride. The combined extracts were washed with sodium bicarbonate solution and Water, and then dried.

Evaporation of the solvent gave a glass which was purified by chromatography over alumina. Elution with benzene-petroleum ether (3:1) and benzene gave crystalline material of melting point 137-145 C. Several recrystallizations from acetone-hexane gave an analytical sample of 17a-methyl-21-fiuoropregna-l,4,9(11)-triene- 3,20-dione (IIIa) with a melting point of 172l73 C.;

2 l-fiuoropregna-1,4,9 1 1 -triene- Example3 To a stirred solution of 17a-methyl-2l-fluoropregnal,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione (4.4 g.) in dioxane (44 ml.) and water (2.64 ml.) there were added N-bromosuccinimide (3.0 g.) and a solution of perchloric acid (0.88 ml.) in water (4.4 ml.). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature. After two minutes a solid began to precipitate. Stirring was continued for 40 minutes and the solution then diluted with water. The crude product had melting point of 184 C. (dec.). It darkened at 120 C. An analytical sample obtained by crystallization from acetonitrile had a melting point of 179-181 C. (dec.; darkened at 165 C.); [a] +135.6 (pyridine); A 242mg, e 11800;

11$}: 3480, 1706, 1662 cmf Analysis confirmed the empiric formula C H BrFO (439 .3 6) for 9wbrO1n0-1 IB-hydroxy-17a-methyl-21-fiuoropregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (IVa). Required: C, 60.13; H, 6.42; Br, 18.19; F, 4.32. Found: C, 60.23; H, 6.45; Br, 18.20, 18.27; F, 4.25, 4.24.

This procedure was used to prepare the following compounds:

6a,21-difluoro 9a-brorno 11 8 hydroxy-17a-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3 ,ZO-dione (IVb 6a,17a-dirnethyl-9a-bromo 11B hydroxy-21-fluoropregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (IVc).

9a-br0mo-11B-hydroxy-17 a methyl-21-fluoropregn-4- ene-3,20-dione (IVd).

6a, 2l-difluoro-9a-bromo-1lfi-hydroxy 17a-methylpregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (IVe).

6a,17a-dimethyl 9a-bromo-11B-l1ydroxy 21-fiuoropregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (IVf) Example 4 Bromohydrin from Example 3 (2.775 g.) was partially dissolved in dioxane (135 ml.) containing absolute ethanol (75 ml.) and freshly fused potassium acetate (2.2 g.) Was added to the mixture. This was refluxed for three hours, cooled and diluted with water. A gummy material (1.92 g.) was collected by filtration. Trituration with methylene chloride gave a soluble fraction (1.442 g.) and an insoluble fraction (0.561 g.).

The latter fraction was identified as starting material. Purification of the methylene chloride-soluble fraction over alumina gave the 9fi,11,6-oxide on elution with benzone-petroleum ether (4:1), benzene and benzene-ether (4:1). One crystallization from acetone-hexane gave material with a melting point of .162164 C. which was the compound 95,115oxido-17a-methyl-2l-fiuoropregna- 1,4-diene-3,20-dione (Va).

The following compounds were prepared by the above procedure:

6a,21-difluoro-9B,1IB-oxido 17a methylpregna 1,4 diene-3,20-dione (Vb).

6a,17a-dimethyl-9,8,1lfl-oxido 21 fiuoropregna 1,4-

' diene-3,20-dione (Vc).

9fl,.11/3oxido-17a-methyl 21 fluoropregn-4-ene-3,20- dione (Vd).

6a,21-difiuoro-9;3,1lfi-oxido 17a methylpregn 4-ene- 3,20-dione (Ve).

6a,17a-dimethyl-9[3,11fl-oxido 21 fluoropregn-4-ene- 3,20-dione (Vi).

Example 5 Hydrogen fluoride (about 750 mg.) was condensed in a polyethylene bottle immersed in a Dry Ice-acetone bath and to this were added tetrahydrofuran (3.0 ml.) and chloroform (2.0 ml.) followed by a solution of the 96,115- oxide (657 mg.) from Example 4 in chloroform (5.0 ml.). The bottle containing the reaction solution was then placed in a salt ice bath for two hours whereupon the solution turned purple.

After pouring into a 15 percent sodium carbonate solution (50 ml.) containing chloroform (5 ml.), the layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with methylene chloride. The combined extracts were washed to neutrality, dried, and evaporated to dryness. A brown syrup was isolated which crystallized from ethyl acetate to give a first crop of product; of melting point 250253 C. (dec.). Using acetone-hexane, an analytically pure sample of 9a,21-difluoro-11B-hydroxy-17amethylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione was obtained; and had a melting point of 261-263 C. (dec.);

[a] -l 31.1 (dioxane); A 240 ma, 6 14,790; ugh: 3490, 1708, 1664 cm."

Analysis confirmed the empiric formula (2 11 1 0 (378.44) for 9a,-21-difiuoro-1 1B hydroxy 17a methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (Vla). Required: C, 69.82; H, 7.46; F, 10.04. Found: C, 69.65; H, 7.32; F, 9.91, 9.81.

This procedure was used to prepare the following compounds:

6a,9a-21-trifiuoro-1 1 fi-hydnoxy 17a-methylpregna-1,4- diene-3,20-dione (VIb).

6a,17a-dimethyl-9a,2l-difluoro-l 1 B-hydroxypregna-l ,4- diene-3,20-dione (VIc).

9a,21-difluoro-1LB-hydroxy 17a methylpregna-4-ene- 3,20-dione (VId).

6a,9a,21-t1ifluoro-1 lfi-hydroxy-17a-rnethylpregn-4-ene- 3,20-dione (VIe).

6u,17a-dimethyl-9a,2l-ditluoro 116 hydroxypregn-4- ene-3,20-dione (VIf).

Example 6 Oxidation of 9a,21-difluoro-11,8-hydroxy-17a-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione with chromic acid or N-bromoacetamide in acetone gave the corresponding ll-keto derivative, :,21 difluoro 17a methylpregna-1,4-diene- 3,11,20-t1i0ne (Villa).

The following compounds were prepared by the above procedure:

6m,9a,21-11Ilflu010 17a-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,11,20- t'rione (VIIb).

6a,17a-dimethyl-9a,2l-difluoropregna-1,4-diene-3 ,11,20- trione (VIIc).

9a,21-difluoro-17a-methylpregn 4 one 3,11,20-trione (V1161).

60L,9a,2 l-trifiuoro- 17a-methylpregn-4-ene-3,1 1,20-trione (VIIe).

601,170; dimethyl 9a,21 difiuoropregn-4-ene-3,11,20- trione (Vllf).

We claim:

1. 9a,21-difiuoro1lfl-hydroxy 17a-methylpregna-1,4- diene-3,20-dione.

2. 9a,21-diflu0ro-17a-methylpregna 1,4-diene-3,11,20- trione.

3. 1la-mesyloxy-17a-methyl-21-fiuoropregna-1,4-diene- 3,20-dione.

4. 17a-methyl-21-fluoropregna 1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20- dione.

5 9a-bromo-1 1 fl-hydroxy-Ua-methyl-Z l-fluor-opregna- 1,4-diene-3,20-dione.

6. 9B,11{3-oxido-17amethy1 21-fluoropregna-1,4-diene- 3,20dione.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,852,511 Fried Sept. 16, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES I.A.C.S., vol. 78, June 1956, p. 2658. Deghenghi et a1. Tetrahedron, February 1963, vol. 19, pp. 289-298.

Patent No 3,162 ,630 December 22, 1964 Peter F. Morand et a1.

It is hereby certified that err ent requiring correction and that th corrected below.

or appears in the above numbered pate said Letters Patent should read as Column 3, first formula at the l eft of the column, for that portion of the formula reading:

same column 3, line 70, for

"fluoropregna" read fluoropr egn Signed and sealed this 3rd day of August 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

6. 9B,11B-OXIXO-17A-METHYL-21-FLUOROPREGNA-1,4-DIENE3,20-DIONE. 